Heart Throbs of the West, Kate B. Carter, Vol.6, p.370
Samuel Read and wife, Elizabeth G. Quilly, and their four children, Alica, Samuel, Quilly and Walter left England on the ship "Horizon." Arriving at Iowa City, they joined the handcart company of Edward Martin. The Reads were wealthy, so they stored or sold their goods and many possessions. Mrs. Read invested some means in medicine and first aid equipment, as she was gifted in taking care of the sick. At Florence, Nebraska, her youngest son, Walter, eight years of age, took a ride with some strangers. When he was missed, the father and oldest son stayed behind to hunt for him. Mrs. Read and her two girls went on, thinking the father would soon follow. A year passed before Walter was found. Mrs. Read and her girls pushed on and managed the best they could, as Mrs. Read was needed to help with the sick of the company. When word came to Brigham Young of the distress of the company caught in the snows of the early winter, he sent aid to them. One of these men was Ephraim Hanks. The handcart pioneers thought he was an angel sent to them.
Heart Throbs of the West, Kate B. Carter, Vol.6, p.3721
The day before, fresh meat had been promised the famished crowd before another day. They were also promised that they would ride into the valley. When the wagons came, carts were thrown to one side and all rode into the valley, November 30, 1856. The snow was up to the bellies of the horses. The scout, Ephraim Hanks, afterwards married Thisby Read as a plural wife. Mrs. Read was, for many years, the only doctor in the city of Nephi.—May S. Arnold.